The Cupcake Test Math K-3

When teaching regrouping in subtraction, students had a difficult time knowing when to regroup. So, since handing out cupcakes for a birthday was something every student could identify with, and you can't give away more cupcakes than you brought, I made up the Cupcake Test. We would look at the ones place, see if it would pass the test. A student would say "If I had 2 cupcakes, could I give 3 away? No! Doesn't pass the Cupcake Test. Time to regroup. Now if I had 12 cupcakes, could I give 3 away? Yes." Besides that, I would always personify the algorithm as I described it. I'd say neighbor, Mr. 3, and have the letters talk to one another. Everyone connects better to a story.